Characteristics of Sophocles' Plays
  • emphasis on individual characters
  • reduced role of chorus
  • complex characters, psychologically well-motivated
  • characters subjected to crisis leading to suffering and self-recognition - including a higher law above man
  • exposition carefully motivated
  • scenes suspensefully climactic
  • action clear and logical
  • poetry clear and beautiful
  • few elaborate visual effects
  • theme emphasized: the choices of people